Upper and Lower Jade lakes are located in the Selkirk mountains in Mount Revelstoke National Park near Revelstoke. The trail to Jade Lakes traverses through sub-alpine and alpine environments. It crosses creeks, scree and boulders. It offers stunning views of surrounding mountains. We hiked to Jade Lakes without stopping at Miller Lake or Eva Lake. According to my Coros Pace 3, we hiked 11.49km with 586 metres of elevation gain to Jade Lakes. These numbers were nearly identic

The Perley Rock trail is a hike in Glacier National Park in the Selkirk mountains located between Golden and Revelstoke in B.C. The hike offers views of the Illecillewaet icefield, a glacial lake, and numerous waterfalls flowing into the valley. According to my Coros Pace 3, the trail is 13km return with 1233 metres of elevation gain. The park is well-known for significant annual precipitation. Summers are relatively mild with unpredictable mountain weather shifts. While leav

I hiked from Brazeau Lake to John-John campsite then onward to Jonas Cutoff then arriving at Four Point campsite. According to my Coros Pace 3, I hiked 35km with 1300 metres of elevation gain. It took about nine hours. This was the highlight of the trip. I crossed a river, encountered a grizzly bear, explored a high elevation plateau, crossed a high elevation pass, saw a caribou antler, heard a wolf howling at night, and much more. The Hike The day started with the ford acros

After waking up at Boulder Creek campsite, I hiked to Brazeau Lake. According to my Coros Pace 3, it was 21km with 313 metres of elevation gain. The route follows alongside the river. The trail was easy to follow. The hike took about 4 hours. I was at Brazeau Lake shortly after lunch. The Hike From the Boulder Creek campsite, I hiked along the trail through the forest leading to Brazeau Lake After following the trail through the forest, I arrived at a bridge. While standing o

The Brazeau Loop is located in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. It is approximately 82km with about 2300 metres of elevation gain. The route traverses alongside a river, beautiful vistas crossing several passes, panoramic valleys, and a stunning lake. The route is not particularly busy. Most campsites had remaining sites available and I hiked the trail mostly alone. I suspect it may be less busy due to the washed out bridge that requires fording a river. According to

Illal Mountain is located in Illal meadows nearby Jim Kelly Peak and Coquihalla Mountain. Illal Mountain is a straightforward class 2 hike. The summit provides panoramic views of many nearby peaks. The tarn below Illal Mountain is a great spot to camp or have lunch as part of a day hike. The Hike Our hike began in Illal meadows. To reach the trail head and the meadows, please refer to my post about Coquihalla Mountain Traverse. https://www.mountainnotebook.ca/post/coquihalla-

Jim Kelly Peak is located in Illal meadows nearby Coquihalla Mountain and Illal Mountain. This peak has become a popular destination for hikers and scramblers in recent years. It is a class 2+ scramble. Most of the route is walking up scree with a few moves that require use of hands. With its location close to popular camping locations, I suspect it sees a lot of traffic now. When I completed this hike in 2021, I found it more enjoyable because there was far less loose rock.

Pinnacle lake is located at the head of the north fork of Railroad Creek which is a tributary of Monashee Creek. Pinnacle Lake sits in a vast amphitheatre. Standing at the shores of the lake, the Middle Pinnacle is seen just right of centre in the picture below. The traverse from the Middle to South Pinnacle crosses near the summit of the Middle Pinnacle seen in this picture. Looking toward the South Pinnacle To reach the hiking trail to Pinnacle Lake, we drove east on highwa

Sinister 7 Ultra takes place in Crowsnest Pass in the Canadian Rockies nearby Coleman, Alberta. The 50 mile course traverses the slopes of Mount Tecumseh and over the shoulder of the Seven Sisters Mountain. The route includes approximately 2900 metres of elevation gain, many creek crossings, navigating roots and mud, and steep climbs. The Course Driving... With a start time at 10:30am, there was plenty of time to eat, hydrate and so forth. The 50 mile event starts at the Yor

Spectrum Lake is located within Monashee Provincial Park. This hike is the perfect first time backpacking trip. From the parking lot to Spectrum Lake, the trail is 6km with 270 metres of elevation gain. The return trip is 6km with 100 metres of elevation gain. The trail is well maintained. It takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Spectrum Lake is nestled among beautiful mountains. The campsites are spread around the shore. There is a group camping area and individual campsites. The cam

Fatdog 120 is an ultramarathon that traverses through Manning Park in British Columbia. There are four different distances (e.g., 120 miles, 100km, 50 miles and 40 miles). On this day, I ran the 100km distance. The 100km course gains 4400 metres of elevation. The Route The course follows along Cayuse flats, Hope Pass trail, Heather trail, Blackwell road, Little Muddy trail, Strawberry Flats, Lightning lakes trail, and Skyline 1 trail. It's a very scenic course. The Race Unfo

The trail from Nissen Bight to the parking lot and San Joseph Bay is the central path through the park. The trail passes by Fisherman River Campsite and Eric Lake Campsite. Fisherman River Campsite is peaceful; however, there are plenty of mosquitos at Eric Lake. Reference: Cape Scott and the North Coast Trail by Maria U. Bremner (2015) Nissen Bight to San Joseph Bay There were many seagulls gathered on the beach in the morning. For those travelling from west to east, this s

For many people, Nissen Bight is the dividing line between the NCT and Cape Scott Trails in the Park. With the arrival of day five, Nissen Bight signalled the end of our hike on the NCT. From Nissen Bight, we hiked to San Joseph Bay for our final night in the park. Reference: Cape Scott and the North Coast Trail by Maria U. Bremner (2015) Laura Creek to Nissen Bight On the way to retrieve our food from the locker, we encountered a black bear feeding on sand flies in the kel

Along the beaches of this area, Black and tan volcanic rocks speak to the ancient history of this area. You'll see sea stacks and fascinating rock formations. You'll likely see eagles, many different sea birds, and bear. Reference: Cape Scott and the North Coast Trail by Maria U. Bremner (2015) Irony Creek to Laura Creek With the low tide, we enjoyed walking along the expansive sandy beach. Most of the route follows the shoreline; however, there are a few ventures inland. Alo

Cape Scott Provincial Park is wild; however, it is not untouched. First Nations have inhabited that Cape Scott Region for millennia. Their culture and spiritual ties to this land are maintained to this day. Alongside human history and culture, the beaches of Cape Scott serve to remind hikers of our global relatedness. While you'll see spectacular vistas, you'll encounter many plastic items scattered on the beaches. Reference: Cape Scott and the North Coast Trail by Maria U. B

Cape Scott Provincial Park is remote and wild. Having hiked the West Coast Trail in the late 90s, the North Coast Trail feels like stepping back in time. There are still opportunities to find your group alone on a spectacular beach. For long stretches of the hike, you won't see anyone else. Reference: Cape Scott and the North Coast Trail by Maria U. Bremner (2015) Skinner Creek to Cape Sutil After a restful sleep and breakfast, we hiked along the beach toward the next inland

The North Coast Trail (NCT) is a 43km challenging trail in Cape Scott Provincial Park located on northern end of Vancouver Island. Most people combine the NCT with the Cape Scott Trail to end their hike in San Joseph Bay (i.e., 58km total) On average, people hike the trail in approximately six to eight days. The trail traverses inland through coastal forest and along expansive shorelines. The route includes plenty of inland bog, rope climbs, rocky beaches, and sandy beaches.

The Frosty Mountain Ultra is an event in Manning Provincial Park. There are three distances (i.e., 13km, 27km and 50km). The race route is scenic with abundant beautiful views. The Route - Frosty Mountain Ultra Beginning at the Lightning Lakes day use area, the route ascends partway up Windy Joe Peak then traverses over the shoulder of Frosty Mountain. From there, the route descends back to the Lightning Lakes area. Going around Lightning Lake, the route ascends Skyline 1 tra

At 2,380 metres, Sunny Peak is located in the Pinnacle Hiking area in the southern Monashee Mountains. Unlike some of the surrounding mountains, it does not have any permanent snow or small glaciers. The views from Sunny Peak are spectacular. The Hike Begin by driving to the trail-head for Monashee Lake (see South Pinnacle Traverse for details). From Monashee Lake, I could see the Middle Pinnacle (centre of the photo below). To reach Sunny Peak, I traversed around the left si

Strike Lake is located in Manning Provincial Park. The Strike Lake campground sits beyond the end of the lake. The campground has a pit toilet, bear cache, fire pits, and several sites. Recently, there are new wooden tent platforms for each site. The campground is nestled in a shaded area among the trees. While water is readily available in the early season, it dries out by the fall. On our trip, we walked back to Strike Lake to get water. The Hike Beginning at Birch Bay Park